Imagined Futures: Contemporary East Asian Science Fiction

Catalog description

Science Fiction has played a major role in shaping real-world technologies. In this course, you’ll explore how sci-fi storytelling and worldbuilding can inspire innovative thinking and help us imagine possible futures—focusing on contemporary East Asia (China, Japan, Korea). We’ll dive into sci-fi prototyping, a method used by organizations such as Intel and the US Air Force that uses creative stories to generate new ideas and strategies. By looking closely at East Asian sci-fi, you’ll learn culturally diverse perspectives and worldbuilding techniques, contrasting these with prevailing Western sci-fi traditions. We’ll also cover the historical development of science and technology in modern East Asia, and discuss important topics like how technology affects human life, environmental sustainability, and pandemics. This course aims to boost your critical thinking and creativity, helping you develop thoughtful approaches to science, technology, and the environment through the study of East Asian science fiction. IC, IIB. PA-3B, PA-4B, SI-04. CAS-B, CAS-B-LIT.